Biotic Factors
There are several biotic, or living, factors that affect Lear International Park's ecosystem. The most important are the wildlife that live in the park: both plants and animals.
There are more species of trees in rainforests than in any other area in the world. In Lear International Park, as well as in other rainforests in South America, there can be anywhere from 100 to 300 different species per 1 hectare of land. About 70% of plantlife in tropical rainforests are trees, and although there are more trees than any other type of plants, there are no dominant species of plant. Most plant life has evolved leaves with large surface area to better harness sunlight and to better transpire, or release their own water from pore-like structures in their leaves known as stomata. Many trees have developed straight trunks that don't have branches until nearly 100 feet up, which prevents them from wasting energy attempting to grow branches below the canopy where there is insufficient sunlight, and smooth, thin bark, which prevents epiphytes and plant parasites from being able to hold onto them and potentially causing damage.
The largest group of animal species in Lear International Park is the insect group, which consists of several species each of butterflies, mosquitoes, and ants, in addition to many others. Common characteristics shared by many animal inhabitants of rainforests include: bright coloring, sharp patterns, loud vocalizations, fruit-heavy diets, and adaptions to living in trees, like tails on monkeys.
There are more species of trees in rainforests than in any other area in the world. In Lear International Park, as well as in other rainforests in South America, there can be anywhere from 100 to 300 different species per 1 hectare of land. About 70% of plantlife in tropical rainforests are trees, and although there are more trees than any other type of plants, there are no dominant species of plant. Most plant life has evolved leaves with large surface area to better harness sunlight and to better transpire, or release their own water from pore-like structures in their leaves known as stomata. Many trees have developed straight trunks that don't have branches until nearly 100 feet up, which prevents them from wasting energy attempting to grow branches below the canopy where there is insufficient sunlight, and smooth, thin bark, which prevents epiphytes and plant parasites from being able to hold onto them and potentially causing damage.
The largest group of animal species in Lear International Park is the insect group, which consists of several species each of butterflies, mosquitoes, and ants, in addition to many others. Common characteristics shared by many animal inhabitants of rainforests include: bright coloring, sharp patterns, loud vocalizations, fruit-heavy diets, and adaptions to living in trees, like tails on monkeys.